After jumping to an early lead, Park Center steamrolls Lakeville North in Class 4A tilt

By John Wagner, SportsEngine, 12/27/18, 9:45AM CST

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Three Pirates scored in double digits, including Adalia McKenzie, who finished with 30.

Park Center sophomore Adalia McKenzie steals the ball and drives to the basket in Thursday’s win over Lakeville North 77-48. Photo by Earl J. Ebensteiner, SportsEngine

Photo Gallery: Lakeville North vs. Park Center

While the Park Center girls' basketball team may be on winter break entering Thursday, there was no break for Adalia McKenzie.

"On Christmas Eve I was in the gym, and I was in the gym the day after Christmas," she said. "I was working on my moves to get to the basket, and I was working on my jump shot."

She had one day off: Christmas Day.

That "break" did not bother McKenzie, who finished with 30 points to lead the Pirates to a 77-48 rout of Lakeville North at the Park Center Holiday Showcase Thursday.

"That doesn't surprise me [that McKenzie was in the gym]," Park Center coach Barb Metcalf said. "Even though we had four days off, we had a good practice [Wednesday] and I was really pleased with how the kids performed tonight."

McKenzie scored 18 points in the first half as Park Center used a full-court press to build runs of 14-0 and 19-3 to run away from the Panthers, ranked No. 10 in Class 4A by Minnesota Basketball News.

"Just because we don't get the steal right away, I tell our kids that isn't what a press is for," Metcalf said. "Sometimes you want to rush their offense, forcing them to make quick decisions and bad decisions."

Meanwhile McKenzie scored 10 of her team's first 14 points, then had three assists late in the first half when the Panthers started double-teaming her.

By game's end her teammates Aaliyah Ragulen had scored 15 points, Lauren Frost 12, and both Kayla Cox and T'Naye Griffin posted eight each as the Pirates improved to 7-2 on the season.

"My focus is to break the defense down," McKenzie said. "I know my teammates will keep moving and get open, and when I attack the basket I will find them."

Lauren Jensen finished with 20 points to lead Lakeville North (5-4), which was missing starter Sarah Kuma because of the flu while Analiese Tschida had eight points despite suffering a sprained ankle in practice.

"We just didn't come ready to play," Panthers coach Shelly Clemons said. "We had built up some momentum during the break ... but we just didn't have it tonight."

Park Center certainly did, leading 39-21 lead at the break. Lakeville North came no closer than 15 points in the second half.

Asked if she was "in the zone," McKenzie responded, "When I started to get into my groove and dominating, I just kept going with the flow."

The Pirates' Lauren Frost charges through the Panthers defense at home Thursday night in a 77-48 win. Photo by Earl J. Ebensteiner, SportsEngine

First report

Park Center's Adalia McKenzie scored 30 points, 18 coming in the first half, to lead the Pirates to a 77-48 thrashing of Lakeville North at the Park Center Holiday Showcase Thursday.

The Pirates used a 14-point explosion midway through the first half and a 19-3 run late to lead 39-21 at the break. The Panthers came no closer than 15 points in the second half.

McKenzie was backed by two other teammates in double figures for Park Center (7-2). Aaliyah Ragulen finished with 15 points while Lauren Frost added 12 for the Pirates.

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